Car door



Dec. 17, 1940. F. DITICHFEELD CAR DOOR Filed March 21, 1938 3 SheetsSheec 1 Dec. 17, 1940. F. DITCHFIELD CAR DOOR Filed March 21, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Viral/fig QTZEK Dec, 17, 1940= V DlTCHFlELD 2,225,371

' GAR DOOR Filed March 21, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 17, 1940 res ATENT OFFIQE CAR DOOR Application March 21, 1938, Serial No. 197,100

Claims.

This invention relates to car doors and is directed more particularly to metallic sliding doors for railway house cars.

It is an object of this invention to provide metallic car doors so designed that the parts thereof may be secured together by welding or by riveting.

A further object is to provide metallic car doors wherein greater rigidity is secured accompanied by reduction in the number of parts em- ;ployed, in the cost of fabrication and in time and labor of assembly.

A further object is to provide metallic car .doors characterized by greater rigidity and reduction" in forming operations and die costs.

A further object is to provide metallic car doors having reinforced vertical margins wherein the reinforcements for said margins are formed from identical sections which are deformed to provide sealing means for the door.

A further object is to provide metallic car doors having reinforced vertical margins wherein the reinforcements for said margins are extended so as to constitute reinforcements for a part of the upper margins of the doors.

A further object is to provide metallic car doors having a corrugated metallic panel and vertical marginal stiffeners, the corrugations extending horizontally and'merging into the plane of the panel and being overlapped by and secured to the marginal stiffeners to produce a door of greater rigidity, eliminate the customary backing plates, buffer angles and the like and reduce the number of plies of material along the marginsv of the door.

Other objects will become clear as the description of the invention proceeds.

In the drawings forming part of this specification:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a door embodying the instant invention mounted upon a railway house car, parts of thedoor and car-being broken away.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail in elevationof the upper left hand corner of the -door and associated car side, parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate the invention.

Figure '7 is a View similar to Figure 6 showing the upper right hand corner of the door.

Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken on line 88 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing a modified form of the invention.

Figure 10 is a vertical section taken on line Hllfl of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a vertical section taken on line ll|| of Figure 9.

Referring to Figures 1 to 8 inclusive illustrating one embodiment of the instant invention, the metallic car door embodying such invention is indicated by the reference numeral Ill. The door comprises a metallic panel II which may be formed of a plurality of overlapping panel sections joined together as indicated at l2. The number of joints will, of course, depend upon the number of panel sections utilized. The

panel II is reinforced by means of vertically;

spaced horizontal corrugations 13 which as more clearly appears from Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings terminate in the plane of the panel within the vertical edges thereof thus leaving the plane vertical flanges l4 and If: at the front and rear margins of the door.

In order to reinforce the forward margin of the metallic panel reinforcing member It is utilized. This member preferably takes the form of a rolled structural T having head flanges ll and IS the latter of which is riveted to the panel as by rivets I9 and 29. The stem 2| of the reinforcing member is directed outwardly from the main plane of the panel. The head flange 11 is deformed in order to provide a flange 22 which, together with the stem 2| cooperate as here inafter more fully explained with a front stop member 23 carried by the car side.

The rear margin of the metallic panel-is reinforced by the identical reinforcing member utilized for this purpose at the forward margin of the panel. For the accomplishment of this purpose the T shaped reinforcing member 16 is turned end for end in a vertical plane and applied to the inner plane of the metallic panel. In this position of the reinforcing member the flange l1 extends inwardly from the stem 2| which is directed toward the car-side. The flange I8 extends outwardly from the stem 2| and is deformed to providea reinforcing flange 24 which serves to protect the rear vertical edge "of the panel. The stem 2! is'deformed as indicated at'25 to provide a sealing strip as hereinafter more fully explained. It will be apparent that by utilizing the same member for reinforcing the forward and rear marginal portions of the door a reduction in the number of parts necessary to be stocked for the fabrication of the door is effected.

With reference to Figure 2 of the drawings, it will be apparent in order to dispose the inner face of the door within the door opening in a common plane the metallic panel is offset as indicated at 26 and 21, these offsets being formed simultaneously with the formation of the horizontal corrugations l3.

Referring particularly to Figures 4 to 7 inclusive of the drawings, the employment of the vertical stifieners as reinforcements for portions of the upper margin of the metallic panel is illustrated. The head flanges l1 and I8 of the rein-v forcing members secured to the forward vertical margin of the panel are turned inwardly so as to provide a reinforcing flange 28 which serves additionally as hereinafter explained as a weather proofing flange. To permit this utilization of the forward marginal stiffener the stem 2| and sealing flange 22 terminate short of the upper edge of the metallic panel as indicated-at 29 and 30 respectively.

Similarly the reinforcing member secured to the rear vertical margin of the panel is used to reinforce a portion of the upper margin of the metallic panel and is therefore bent inwardly so as to provid the reinforcing flange 3|. To permit the formation of the reinforcing flange 3| the stem 2| and the reinforcing flange 24 of the reinforcing member terminate short of the upper edge of the panel as indicated at 33 and 32 respectively.

To complete the reinforcement for the upper margin of the metallic panel an angle member 34 is utilized. The flange 35 of this angle member is secured to the outer face of the metallic panel and the horizontal flange 36 is extended inwardly and provides a continuation of the reinforcing flanges 28 and 3| formed on the reinforcing members It. To provide for the offsets 26 and 2! in the metallic panel the vertical flange 35 of the reinforcing angle 34 is coped as indicated at 31.

Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, it will be observed that the flanges of the reinforcing members l5 overlap the horizontal corrugations 3 for a substantial extent. This arrangement of these parts together with the fact of the attachment of the reinforcing members to the metallic panel permits the use and development of the strength of the horizontal corrugations in resisting the turning tendency in a vertical plane of the reinforcing members under impact. The

rigidity of the door particularly at the forward M and rear margins is greatly enhanced inasmuch as the cross section of the materialof the panel available at any section through the door is increased. This desirable result is accomplished with a resultant reduction in the number of parts, forming operations, die costs and in the cost of fabrication and assembly as will be apparent from reference to the door and rear edge sealing arrangement illustrated in the patent to McWilliams, 1,742,408, January 7, 1931, over which in particular the instant invention presents an improvement.

A backing plate 38 is secured to the upper mar gin of the metallic panel and extends across the upper horizontal corrugation l3 and between the marginal stiffeners as clearly shown in Figures 6 and '7 of the drawings. A backing plate 39 is secured to the lower margin of the metallic panel and extends across the lower horizontal corrugation l3 and between the marginal stifieners as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. Additionally, a reinforcing angle member 40 arranged with its vertical leg 4| secured to the inner face of the metallic panel and its horizontal leg 42 extended outwardly is employed to reinforce the lower margin of the panel.

The door hereinabove described is shown mounted upon a side wall 43 of a railway house car. The door I0 is adapted to control a door opening 44 which is defined by the front and rear door posts 45 and 46, a J-shaped door header 4? fastened to the depending leg 48 of a Z-shaped side plate 49, and. the floor 5|) of the car. The metallic sheathing of the side wall '43 is indicated at 5|.

The door illustrated is of the lift type and consequently frictionally supported when in lowered position upon a track 52 carried by a plurality of track brackets 53 fastened as by means of rivets 54 to the side sill 55 of the car underframe. The frictional support of the door upon the track is obtained through the outwardly extending horizontal flange 42 of the bottom reinforcing angle 40, this flange additionally serving to provide a metallic weather seal in conjunction with the track 52. Lift mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral 55 is utilized to elevate the door and support it for anti-fric-, tional movement upon the rollers for movement between open and closed positions. The particular form of lift mechanism illustrated constitutes no part of the instant invention and hence no detailed description of this mechanism is deemed to be necessary. This lift mechanism will form the subject matter of a separate application.

The door is illustrated in its closed and lowered position. Inthis position the stem 2| and flange '22 of the forward marginal stiffener of the door.

panel cooperate with the front stop 23 as clearly illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings to provide a weather proofing relationship for preventing ingress of water, dust and cinders into the car. The front stop member 231s secured to thefront door post 45 as by rivets 51 which are also utilized to fasten the metallic sheathing to the door post.

When in closed position the deformed portion 25 of the stem 2| of the rear marginal stiffener of the metallic panel cooperates with thespark and guard strip 58 carried by an angle member 59 secured as by rivets 60 to the rear door post The relationship between the deformed portion 25 and the spark and guard strip 58 prevents the ingress of water, dust and cinders into the car.

Similarly the inturned flanges 28 and 3| of the marginal stiffeners I6 and the inwardly extending flange 36 of the reinforcing angle 34 cooperate with the J-shaped header 4! to prevent ingress of foreign matter over the upper edge of the door and into the car as more clearly illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 9 to 11 inclusive the front marginal stiffener I6 terminates at the upper edge of the panel as indicated at 6| in Figures 9 and 11 of the drawings. The angle reinforcing member 34 secured to the upper margin of the door is in this instance coped as indicated at 62, the remaining portion of the vertical flange 35 extending to the outer edge of said reinforcing member and being disposed upon said marginal stiffener. This portion of the verticalflange 35 is preferably welded to the upper edge of said marginal stiffener l6. While there is illustrated in the drawings onlythe upper-left hand corner of the door 'as constructed according to the modified emb'odi-j ment of the invention, it will be understood that a similar -construction is utilizedfor the dipper right hand corner of the door. l a a It will be apparent that numerous changes and modifications in the details of the-invention will be clear tothose skilled in the art. I-t is'intended, therefore, that all such modifications and changes be comprehended within-this invention; which is to be limited only by the scope-of the claims appended hereto; 1 I fi i I claim:

1. A railway car door comprising a metallic panel, spaced horizontal'corruga'tions formed in said panel, said corrugations merging into the plane of said panel 'within 'the vertical edges thereof to provide plane vertical flanges beyond said corrugations, stiffeners disposed upon the inside of said panel along the vertical flanges thereof, said stifleners extending the height of said panel and overlapping said corrugations, means securing said plane vertical flanges to said vertical stiffeners andadditional means positioned between and inwardly of the ends of said corrugations for fastening said panel to said vertical stiffeners whereby said corrugations are effective to resist the tendency of said vertical stiffeners to rotate, said stifleners being bent adjacent to the upper edge of said panel to provide reinforcing and weather proofing flanges for said door and a reinforcing member secured to the upper margin of said panel having a flange disposed intermediate said stiffener flanges and forming a continuation thereof.

2. A railway house car door comprising a metallic panel, spaced horizontal corrugations formed in said panel, said corrugations merging into the plane of said panel within the vertical edges thereof to provide plane vertical flanges beyond said corrugations, stifl'eners disposed along said plane vertical flanges and overlapping said horizontal corrugations, means securing said stifleners to said plane vertical flanges and additional means positioned inwardly of the ends of said corrugations fastening said stifi'eners to said panel, the portion of each of said stiffeners which is opposite the door opening in the closed position of said door lying substantially in the main plane of said panel.

3. A railway house car door comprising a metallic panel, spaced horizontal corrugations formed in said panel, said corrugations merging into the plane of said panel within the vertical edges thereof to provide plane vertical flanges beyond said corrugations, stilfeners disposed along said plane vertical flanges and overlapping said horizontal corrugations, means securing said stiifeners to said rplane vertical flanges and ad ditional means positioned inwardly of the ends of said corrugations fastening said stiifeners to said panel, said stiffeners being bent adjacent to the upper edge of said panel to form flanges and an angular member secured to said panel having a flange disposed between said stiffener flanges.

4. A railway house car door comprising a metallic panel, spaced horizontal corrugations fored in said panel, said corrugations merging into the plane of said panel within the vertical edges thereof to provide plane vertical flanges beyond said corrugations, stiffeners disposed along said plane vertical flanges and overlapping said horizontal corrugations, means securing said stiffeners to said plane vertical flanges and additional means positionedinwardly of the ends of 'said corrugations fasteningsaidstilfeners to said panel, said-'stiffeners beingformedfrom T shaped members, said members being secured to saidpanel through head flanges thereof, the stems of said members extending at an angle to said panela 5. A railway house car door comprising a metallic panel, spaced horizontal corrugations formed in said 'panel,'said corrugations merging intothe plane of said panel within the vertical edges thereof to provide plane vertical flanges beyond said corrugations, stiffeners disposed along said plane vertical flanges and overlapping said horizontal corrugations, means securing said stiifen'ers to saidplane vertical flanges and additional means positioned inwardly of theends of said corrugations fastening saidstifl'eners to said panel, said stiffeners being formed'from T shaped'rnembers, said members being secured to said panel through head flanges thereof, the stems of said members extending at an angle to said panel, one of the head flanges of one of said members being deformed to provide a sealing flange, the stem of the other of said members extending inwardly being deformed to provide a sealing flange.

6. A-railway house car door comprising a metallic panel; spaced horizontal corrugations formed in said panel, said 'corrugations'merging into the plane of said panel'within the vertical edges thereof to'prdvidg-plane vertical flanges beyond said corrugations, stilfeners disposed along said plane vertical flanges and overlapping said horizontal corrugations, means securing said stiifeners to said plane vertical flanges and additional means positioned inwardly of the ends of said corrugations fastening said stiffeners to said panel, said stiffeners being formed, from T shaped members, said members being secured to said panel through head flanges .theerof, the stems of said members extending at an angle to said panel, one of the head flanges of one of said members being deformed to provide a sealing flange, the stem and a head flange of the other of said members being deformed to provide a sealing flange and panel protecting flange respectively.

7. A railway car door comprising a metallic panel, spaced horizontal corrugations formed in said panel, said corrugations merging into the plane of said panel within the vertical edges thereof to provide plane vertical flanges beyond said corrugations, T-shaped stiffeners having head flanges extending the height of said panel disposed upon the inside of said panel along the vertical flanges thereof and overlapping said corrugations, means securing a head flange of one of said stifieners to a plane vertical flange of said panel, additional means positioned between of said other stiffener to said panel.

8. A railway car door comprising a metallic panel, spaced horizontal corrugations formed in said panel, said corrugations merging into the plane of said panel within the vertical edges thereof to provide plane vertical flanges beyond said corrugations, T-shaped stiifeners having head flanges extending the height of said panel disposed uponthe inside of said panel alongthe vertical flanges thereof and overlapping said corrugations, means securing a head flange of one of said stiffeners to a plane vertical flange of said panel, additional means positioned between'and inwardly of the adjacent ends of said corrugations fastening said head flange tosaid panel,

means securing a head flange of the other stiifener to the remaining vertical flange- 01? said panel and additional means positioned between and inwardly of the adjacent ends of said corrugations fastening the remaining head flange of said other stiffener to said panel, the remaining head flange of said one stiffenerbeing deformed to provide a sealing flange, the stem of said other stiffener extending inwardly and being deformed to provide a sealing flange. j,

9. A railway car door comprising a metallic panel, spaced horizontal corrugations formed in said panel, said corrugations merging into the plane of said panel within the said corrugations, T-shaped stiiieners having head flanges extending the height of said panel disposed upon the inside of said panel along the vertical flanges thereof and overlapping said corrugations, means securing a head flange of one of said s-tiifeners to a plane vertical flange of said panel, additional means positioned between and inwardly of the adjacent ends of said corrugations fastening said head flange to said panel, means securing a head flange of the other stiffener to the remaining plane vertical flange of said panel and additional means positioned between and inward- 1y of the adjacent ends of said corrugations fastening the remaininglhead flange of said other stiffener to said panel, the remaining head flange of said one stiffener being deformed to provide a sealing flange, the stem of said other stiflener being deformed to, provide a sealing flange and a head flange ofsaid other stiffener being bent outwardly toprovide aprotecting flange for the adeners to said vertical panel flanges and means fastening said straight flanges of said stiffeners to said panel inwardly of the ends of said corrugations, said corrugations resisting rotation of said stiffeners about vertical axis under impact.

, FRANK DITCHFIELD. 

